Posted on July 27, 2016
A recently identified “Snake Fungal Disease” is affecting wild and captive snakes in North America, Europe, and Australia. This fungus has been named Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola and it has been shown to affect the skin, eyes, and/or heat pits of several snake species. Infections with this fungus can be disfiguring or fatal. Veterinarians and wildlife biologists should consider this pathogen as a differential diagnosis for snakes with dermatitis. Information and photographs of affected snakes, and literature citations, are available at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center website: http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/other_diseases/snake_fungal_disease.jsp
Samples can be submitted to diagnostic laboratories for culturing and identification, including:
- University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Clinical Microbiology, Parasitology and Serology Lab—culturing.
Phone 352-294-4540
cmps@vetmed.ufl.edu - University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Zoo Medicine Diagostic Lab—PCR testing.
Phone 352/294-4420
http://labs.vetmed.ufl.edu/sample-requirements/zoo-med-infections/\ - University of Illinois
Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Wildlife Epidemiology Lab—PCR testing.
Phone 217/333-1620
http://vetmed.illinois.edu/wel/ - USGS National Wildlife Health Center.
Phone 608/270-2480 http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/services/Wildlife_Mortality_Reporting_and_Diagnostic_Services_Request_Form_120415_saveable.pdf - University of Texas
Fungus Testing Lab, San Antonio
Phone 210/567-4131
http://strl.uthscsa.edu/fungus/
And three laboratories in Germany perform culturing:
- Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG www.laboklin.de
- Synlab.vet GmbH https://www.synlab.de
- University of Leipzig, Clinic for Birds and Reptiles http://vog.vetmed.uni-leipzig.de
A recent review is available: Pare, JA, and L Siegler. 2016. An overview of reptile fungal pathogens in the genera Nannizziopsis, Paranannizziopsis, and Ophidiomyces. J Herpetol Med Surg 26(1-2): 46-53.
http://www.jherpmedsurg.com/doi/abs/10.5818/1529-9651-26.1-2.46
The Association of Amphibian and Reptilian Veterinarians recommends contacting the appropriate laboratory regarding sampling, costs, and turnaround times.
